Heater and vaporizer for internal-combustion engines.



R. G. THORNHILL & C. C. THOMPSON. HEATER AND VAPORIZER FOR INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 26. 1915.

Patented Oct. 24

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RAY G. THORNI-IILL AND CHARLES C. THOMPSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

HEATER AND VAPORIZJER FOR, INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented fillet. 24, 1916.

Application filed. October 26, 1915. Serial No. 58,057..

Heater and Vaporizer for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to internal combustion engines such as are nowconstructed to burn gasolene, or similar hydrocarbon fuels.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means whereby heavyhydrocarbon oils of low boiling point may be utilized in such an engine.This is accomplished by vaporizing the oil by means of the engineexhaust and by mixing the oil with suitable proportions of steam, themixture then being further heated before being passed into thecarbureter.

The invention comprises means whereby a very light and volatile fuel maybe used for starting purposes, and means whereby the user of the enginecan at any time change the apparatus so that either, high or low boilingpoint fuel may be used.

In the drawings, which are for illustrative purposes onlyzFigure 1 is asomewhat diagrammatic cross section of an automobile equipped with ourinvention. Fig. is an enlarged View, partly in cross sect1on,'of ourinvention as applied to the exhaust pipe of an internal combustionengine. Fig. 3 is a cross section on a plane represented by the line w mof Fig. ,2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section of the-water connectionand radiator cap of the automobile. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional planview of the valve. Fig. 6 is a cross section on a plane represented bythe line ov -w of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The invention is illustrated as applied to an automobile, this being themost common application of internal combustion engines.

1n the drawings, an automobile 11 is shown on which an engine 12 ismounted, the engine having a carbureter 13. A radiator 14 is connectedthrough pipes 15 and 16 with the water jacket of the engine, theradiator being provided with a water connection 17 and a cap 18 throughwhich the radiator may be filled. An exhaust 'mani fold 19 is connectedthrough a pipe 20 with a muflier 21. Located under the seat 22 is a maybe placed in the tank 23. A vaporizing,

chamber 30, having a cross section similar to that shown in Fig. 3adapted to fit against the exhaust pipe 20, is secured to the exhaustpipe by means of aclamp 31 arid by means of a small copper pipe 32, thiscopperpipe 32 being wound around the vaporizing chamber 30 as shown inFig. 2, the exhaust pipe 20, vaporizing chamber 30, and the pipe '32,being insulated by an asbestos covering 33. Located in the vaporizingchamber 30 are a series of baffle plates 34, and located near the lowerend thereof are a series of screens 35. A pet-cock 36 is provided at thelower end of the vaporizing chamber 30 through which waste water, dirt,etc., may be drawn as they accumulate. The lower end 37 of the pipe 32is connected into a T 38, one branch of which is connected through apipe 39 with the interior of the main tank 23. The other branch of the T38 is connected through a pipe 40 with a change-over valve 42. The upperend 43 of the pipe 32 is connected to a 'l' 44, one branch of which isconnected through a pipe 45 with the upper end of the vaporizing chamber30, the other branch being. connected through a valve 46 with a pipe 47v the pipe 47' extending into the interior of valve 42 with theauxiliary tank 25, the

upper projection 53 of the valve 42 being connected through a pipe 54with a projection 55 formed on the vaporizing chamber 30. The valve 42has the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 in whichv the shellhas the projections 41, 53 and 51 formed thereon, and in addition has aprojection 61 which is connected through a pipe 62 with the carbureter13. A cover 63 closesone end of a cylindrical opening 64 formed in theshell 60, a cylinder 65 turning in the cylindrical opening 64 and beingcontrolled through a stem 66 which projects through a stutling box 67formed in the cover 63. An operating rod 68 extends through the fioor 69of the automobile 11 so that the cylinder can readily be turned. A rightangle opening 7 0 is formed in the cylinder 65, the opening 7 0connecting with an openthe engine .12, the-valve 65 is turned by meansof the rod 68 into such a position that the pipe 40 connects directlyWith the pipe 62, the pipes 54 and 50 being closed by the cylinder 65.Gasolene is then taken from the tank 23 directly into the carbureter 13in. accordance With standard practice in the art, the automobileoperating in the ordinary manner. If it is desired to burn a heavydistillate the cylinder 65 is turned so as to connect the pipe 54 withthe pipe 62, the pipes 50 and 44; being closed. The heavy distillate isthen taken through the pipe 54: into the pipe 32, passing around theexhaust pipe 20 and around the vaporizer 30, the heated liquid beingdischarged through the pipe. 45 into the top of the vaporizing chamber30. If the valve 46 is closed,'there Will be no flow through the pipe47. If it is desired the valve 46 may be opened, Water vapor being takenoff the top of the radiator 14: through the pipe 47. The amount of thiswater vapor Will depend largely on the temperature of the engine, largeamounts of this vapor being taken off as the water in the jackets of theengine approaches or passes the boiling point. The heated fuel and theWater vapor pass downwardly through the vaporizing chamber 30, beingbroken up and mixed by the diaphragms 34 and being finely subdivided andfurther mixed by the screen members 35. The finely divided and mixedWater vapor and fuelare drawn through the pipes 5% and 62 into thecarburetor where the liquid is further vaporized before being passedinto the engine. When heavy fuel is used in the main tank 23, it isextremely difficult to start the engine when cold, due to the lowboiling point of such heavy hydrocarbon. For the purpose of makingstarting easy, the auxiliary fuel tank 25 is supplied, a small quantityof light gasolene being carried therein for starting. When it is desiredto start the engine, the cylinder 65 is turned so that the pipe 50 is incommunication With the pipe 62, light gasolene being then taken from thetank 25 into the carbureter 13 so that the engine can be started in theusual manner.

We claimas our invention:

1. In an internal combustion engine, a carbureter, a main fuel tank, avaporizing chamber secured to the exhaust pipe of the engine, apreheating coil surrounding said vaporizing chamber and said exhaustpipe connected at one end into the top of said vaporizing chamber andconnected at the other end into said main fuel tank, and a valve bywhich either the lower end of said vaporizing chamber or said main fueltank can be connected to the inlet of said carbureter. A

2. In an internal combustion engine, a

carbureter, a main fuel tank, a vaporizing I chamber secured to theexhaust pipe of the engine, a preheating coil surrounding saidvaporizing chamber and said exhaust pipe connected at one end into thetop of said vaporizing chamber and connected at the other end into saidmain fuel tank, a water vapor pipe connecting the top of the radiator ofthe engine with the top of said vaporizing chamber, and a valve by whicheither the lower end of said vaporizing chamber or said main fuel tankcan be connected to the inlet of said carburetor.

3. In an internal combustion engine, a carbureter, a main fuel tank, avaporizing chamber secured to the exhaust pipe of the engine, apreheating coil surrounding said vaporizing chamber and said exhaustpipe connected at one end into the top of said vaporizing chamber andconnected at the other end into said main fuel tank, a light fuel tank,and a valve by which the inlet of the carburetor can be connected eitherdirectly to said light fuel tank, or directly to said main fuel tank, orto the bottom of said vaporizing chamber.

4. In an internal. combustion engine, a carbureter, a main fuel tank, avaporizing chamber secured to the exhaust pipe of the engine, apreheating coil surrounding said vaporizing chamber and said exhaustpipe connected at one end into the top of said vaporizing chamber andconnected at the other end into said main fuel tank, a water vapor pipeconnecting the top of the radiator of the engine with the top of saidvaporizing chamber, alight fuel tank, and avalve by which the inlet ofthe carburetor can be connected either directly to said light fuel tank,or directly to said main fuel tank, or to the bottom of said vaporizingchamber.

5. In an internal combustion engine, a carbureter, a main fuel tank, avaporizing chamber secured to the exhaust pipe of the engine, a seriesof bafiles in said vaporizing chamber, a series. of screens in saidvaporizing chamber, said bafiles and screens being so arranged as tobreak up and mix the vapor passing through said vaporizing chamber, apreheating coil surrounding said vaporizing chamber and said exhaustpipe connected at one end into the top of said vaporizing chamber andconnected at the other end into said main fuel tank, and a valve bywhich either the lower end of said vaporizing chamber or said main fueltank can be connected to the inlet of said carbureter.

a preheating coil surrounding said vaporizing chamber and said exhaustpipe connected at one end into the top of sald vaporizing chamber andconnected at the other end into said main fuel tank, a Water vapor pipeconnecting the top of the radiator of the engine With the top of saidvaporizing cham her, and a valve by which either the lower end of saidvaporizing chamber or said main fuel tank can be connected to the inletof said carbureter.

7. In an internal combustion engine, a carbnreter, a main fuel tank, avaporizing chamber secured to the exhaust pipe of the engine, a seriesof bafiles in said vaporizing chamber, a series of screens in saidvaporizing chamber, said baflles and screens being so arranged as tobreak up and mix the vapor passing through said vaporizing chamber, apreheating coil surrounding said vaporizing chamber and said exhaustpipe connected at one end into the top of said vaporizing chamber andconnected at the other end into said main fuel tank, a light fuel tank,and a valve by which the inlet of the carbureter can be connectedeither' directly to said light fuel tank, or directly to said main fueltank, or to the bottomof said vaporizing chamber.

8. In an internal combustion engine, a carbureter, a main fuel tank, avaporizing chamber secured to the exhaust pipe of the engine, a seriesofbaffies in said vaporizing chamber, a series of screens in saidvaporizing chamber, said baffles and screens being so arranged as tobreak up and mix the vapor passing through said vaporizing chamber, apreheating coil surrounding said vaporizing chamber and said exhaustpipe connected at one end into the top of said vaporizing chamber andconnected at the other end into said main fuel tank, a Water vapor pipeconnecting the top of the radiator of the engine with the top of saidvaporizing chamber, a light fuel tank, and a valve by Which the inlet ofthe carbureter can be connected either directly to said light fuel tank,or directly to said main fuel tank, or to the bottom of said vaporizingchamber,

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our handsat Los Angeles,California, this 20th day of October, 1915.

RAY G. THORNHILL. CHARLES C. THOMPSON.

